Steerable float



Patented July 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEERABLE FLOAT Noyes 0. Long, Old Hickory, Tenn. Application January 25, 1949, Serial No. 72,670

3 Claims.

This invention relates to aquatic devices and more particularly to those used by children in swimming pools or other Water for providing the necessary buoyancy to keep afloat one or more children and affording protection for children possessing limited swimming ability as well as to accustom children to water, promote their learning to paddle or navigate as well as to swim and or provide a craft having a keel which will tend to stabilize the craft and when moved will influence its movement toward a straight line.

Numerous types of lighter than water crafts have been produced all of which have been subject to various and sundry criticisms including their cost, size, weight, instability, complicated construction, and their likelihood of failure to perform the function for which they were intended due among other. things to the danger of deterioration or collapse.

It is an object of the present invention to provide water craft of simple, inexpensive construction, capable of supporting safely above water one or more children or an adult, and which can be easily handled by a child or adult.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character with a pivotally mounted keel which may be locked in operative position or may be collapsed for shipment or storage and by means of which a steady course will be facilitated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pair of paddles for use in propelling the craft.

Briefly stated the invention comprises an endless pneumatic tube to which is secured a relatively thin disk. The disk is secured to the tube by means of lashing which extends around the tube and through the edges of the disk.

The disk is provided on its bottom or side oppo site the tube with a keel pivotally mounted to swing from operative position at right angles to the disk, to a postiion at right angles thereto or substantially flat against the disk. When in operative position the rudder like keel may be held stationary to thereby provide means for assisting in the steering of the device.

A pair of foldably connected paddles may be employed for use in propelling the device along the surface of the water.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective of the invention with a child standing beside the same;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary bottom plan view;

Fig. 3, a side elevation;

Fig. 4, a plan view for a pair of paddles; and,

Fig. 5, a fragmentary viewof the paddles taken at right angles to Fig. 4.

With continued reference to the drawings, a pneumatic tube or annulus ll) of conventional construction, is employed which when filled with air is lighter than water and consequently provides a flotation unit or chassis. 'To the pneumatic tube I0 is attached a bottom or deck in the form of a disk or plate H having a diameter approximately equal to the median diameter of the annulus I0, by means of a strap or lashing l2 extending through spaced openings or slots l3 in the disc I i. It will be noted that the openings or slots are arranged in circumferentially spaced relation with the openings adjacent the periphery of the disk being staggered with relation to the corresponding openings spaced inwardly thereof and the spacing between the inner and. outer openings being substantially half the cross-sectional diameter of the tube whereby a secure attachment may be made with a flexible tape or cord by passing such tape through the openings and around the adjacent section of the tube.

This boat or float structure provides inexpensive partially dirigible water craft which may be more or less stabilized and caused when moved to travel in a straight line by means of a keel or fixed rudder I4 attached to the underside of the disk II. This keel tapers from its inner end towards its outer end as shown and may be secured by means of hinges l5 outwardly in operative position radially of the disk. On account of the hinge l5 this keel or rudder I4 is movable from an inoperative position substantially parallel to the surface of the underside of the disk I l to an operative position substantially at right angles thereto. A latch i6 may be employed for securing the keel in operative position so that upon slight movement of the device it will be caused to travel substantially longitudinally of the keel or rudder 14 or in a substantially straight line or keep on a steady course due to the resistance offered by the water in which the device is located.

To provide for the propulsion of the craft a pair of paddles or blades l1 and [8 are mounted on shafts I9 and 20 connected by a pivot 2| so that they may be folded or held in extended position by means of a slidable sleeve 22. When folded the paddle blades l1 and [8 may rest in spaced relation upon the tube with the joined a portion of the shaft disposed at slight angles each to the other. The paddles may be used in any desired manner, as for example, by alternate movement through the water on opposite sides of the device or by using a single paddle on one side of the device.

It will thus be understood that a simple, inexpensive and desirable boat or raft like craft is provided which in collapsed position will occupy a minimumof space and which when inflated will give a satisfactory, practical, serviceable device along with desirable propelling means thereof.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is-not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only asin'dicate'd in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination a pneumatic tube, a disc forming a deck for the tube circumferentially and radially spaced openings in the disc, lashing about said tubeextending through said openings, a radially disposed keel member tapered between its extremities and attached to the disk on its underside, means pivotally mounting said keel on the underside of the said disc, and fastening means for'securingsaid keel in position projecting outwardly from the disk.

2. A deck for use with an annular buoyant "ring comprising a disk of substantially the median diameter of the annular buoyant ring with which said disk is to be used, said disk being lashing for attaching said disk to said annular ring, and a flat keel radially positioned on one face of said disk and mounted on one of its edges for movement from an inoperative position substantially parallel to said disk to an operative position substantially at right angles to said disk, and means on said one face of said disk for retaining said keel in operative position.

3. A water craft comprising an endless inflatabletube, a plate having one surface arranged in face to face contact with'one side of said tube and extending substantially to the mid-portion of said tube along the periphery thereof, said plate-having a series of openings in the portion thereof adjacent the periphery and another series of openings spaced inwardly from the periphery substantially half the cross-sectional diameter of said tube and flexible means extend- ;ing-ithrough said openings and around said tube for securing said plate to said tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED. STATES PATENTS 

